£21,000 per permanent exclusion?

Schools Week have reported concerns that Devon County Council are considering introducing a new exclusion levy of £21,000 to incentivise inclusion.

Permanent exclusion rates in Devon are higher than the national average and DCC believe that the charge could incentivise schools with high exclusion rates to explore every possible avenue to keep pupils in school rather than pass the financial burden on to the local council.  Some headteachers have criticised the move, see the Schools Week article for details.

The question asking schools if they would agree to the levy appears in the Devon Schools Funding Arrangements 2025-26 Consultation which closes on 10^th December.

Has your school responded to the consultation?